CVE-2025-11165: A sandbox escape vulnerability exists in dotCMS’s Velocity scripting engine (VTools) that allows authenticated

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CRITICAL 9.9UPGRADE

CVE-2025-11165 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.9) affecting dotcms. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

A sandbox escape vulnerability exists in dotCMS’s Velocity scripting engine (VTools) that allows authenticated users with scripting privileges to bypass class and package restrictions enforced by SecureUberspectorImpl. By dynamically modifying the Velocity engine’s runtime configuration and reinitializing its Uberspect, a malicious actor can remove the introspector.restrict.classes and introspector.restrict.packages protections. Once these rest

Why this priority

Critical severity

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	9.9 (Critical)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	Low
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	0.3% (top 72%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-89
Published	2026-02-24
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): dotCMS LLC · Vendor: dotcms

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2026-02-24 09:16 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 08:29 UTCUpdated Record last modified

dotcms dotcms UPGRADE

Affected: < 24.12.27 · >= 25.01.07 and < 25.07.10

Fixed in: 24.12.27, 25.07.10

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 25.01.07

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy dotcms || rpm -q dotcms || dotcms --version

2. UPGRADE to 24.12.27 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade dotcms

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade dotcms

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 25.01.07 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison dotcms sudo apt install dotcms=<VERSION_BEFORE_25.01.07> sudo apt-mark hold dotcms

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list dotcms sudo dnf downgrade dotcms-<VERSION_BEFORE_25.01.07> sudo dnf versionlock add dotcms

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2025-11165?

dotcms: upgrade to 24.12.27, 25.07.10. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2025-11165 being exploited?

CVE-2025-11165 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2025-11165 affect?

CVE-2025-11165 affects dotcms. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.9). A sandbox escape vulnerability exists in dotCMS’s Velocity scripting engine (VTools) that allows authenticated users with scripting privileges to bypass class and package restrictions enforced by SecureUberspectorImpl. By dynamically modif

How urgent is CVE-2025-11165?

Priority 42/100. Critical severity

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References

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